Homemade Dog Food Recipes

Cooking your Cocker Spaniel's meals using nutritious homemade dog food recipes can be so satisfying and because you've made it yourself you know exactly what goes into his food. Try some of our some of our tasty recipes below and watch that little tail wag!

Tasty Homemade Dog Food Recipes

If you enjoy cooking for your Spaniel (and who doesn't?) you're in for a treat!

You'll find a tasty selection of healthy dog food recipes just waiting for you to try, and if you need any convincing about why home cooked is best, follow this link to learn more.

This first recipe below is one of Max's favourites...Savoury Minced Chicken!

We've had lots of great feedback from it so if you only try one recipe, this is the one to try. I just know your dog is going to love it!

Yummy! My Favorite!

Not only is it a healthy organic alternative to shop-bought dog food, it can work out cheaper. It's also very easy to make.

Organic chicken is best, but good quality minced chicken works well too.

If you'd like to share one of your Cocker's favourite recipes, we'd love to hear from you, simply fill in the short form at the bottom of this page.

Homemade Dog Food Recipes: Quick Links

Here are some quick links to take you straight to your favourite recipe!

Tasty Recipes for Homemade Dog Food!

Savory Minced Chicken Dinner

This is Max's favourite meal and I'm sure if he could make it himself, he would!

I hope you enjoy it.

Ingredients:

• 1 pound of organic minced chicken
• 2 cups of whole brown rice
• 6 cups of water
• 1 teaspoon of rosemary
• 1/2 pound of finely chopped broccoli
• 1/2 pound of diced carrots

Instructions:

1. Place the minced chicken, water, rice and rosemary into a large pan.
   
   
2. Combine all the ingredients - taking care to break up the minced chicken.
   
   
3. Put the pan on a high heat and bring to the boil.
   
   
4. When the mixture has reached boiling point, reduce the heat to the lowest setting and simmer for 20 minutes before adding the vegetables and cooking until tender.
   
   
5. When the mixture is cooked remove the pan from the heat and allow it to cool.

Place meal-sized portions in foil containers or zip-lock bags and refrigerate or freeze until you're ready to use it. If the food is frozen, it's best to allow it to defrost overnight in the fridge.

Try this one for yourself and you'll see why it's one of our visitor's favourite homemade dog food recipes!

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Lamb And Rice Delight

This is another of Max's favourite recipes for homemade dog food.

He hovers very closely when I'm in the kitchen cooking up a batch and I'm often in danger of tripping over him!

I love being outdoors!

I don't know how he does it, but he always seems to know when I'm cooking for him and not the family.

Anyway, here's the recipe.

Enjoy.

Ingredients:

• 1lb of ground lamb (beef can be used as an alternative)
  
• 2 cups of brown rice
• 2 tablespoons of chopped broccoli
• 3 medium-sized potatoes, peeled
• 3 medium-sized carrots
• 2 tablespoons of chopped spinach

Instructions:

1. Brown the ground lamb in a large frying pan, and when browned, transfer the meat to a large deep pan.
   
   
2. Add enough water to cover and bring up to the boil.
   
   
3. Cube the potatoes, chop the broccoli, carrots and the spinach.
   
   
4. Add the cubes of potato to the frying pan and fry gently in the lamb juices before adding to the deep pan - don't forget the juices.
   
   
5. Add the broccoli, carrots, and chopped spinach to the lamb mixture.
   
   
6. Add the rice and mix well.
   
   
7. Top up with enough water to cover the lamb mixture and simmer gently for around 20 minutes, or until the lamb and vegetables are tender and the rice is cooked.
   
   
8. Allow to cool.

Most of our homemade dog food recipes on this page will keep up to 4 days in the refrigerator.

If you prefer, you can divide this mixture into single portions and put them in the freezer. Simply defrost a portion overnight for the next day.

Not only is this recipe healthy and nutritious, I'm sure your dog will agree it's tasty too!

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Savory Mince And Veggies

We all love mince and 'tatties', don't we? Well, this is a simple version for your dog. Why should he miss out on something as tasty as this?

Ingredients:

• 750 grams of beef mince
• 1 kg of mixed vegetables of your choice: carrots, potato, broccoli, peas, parsnip, cauliflower
• 2 cups of rice
• 1 or 2 beef stock cubes

Instructions:

1. Brown the minced beef in a large frying pan, or in batches in a large deep pan.
   
   
2. Add enough water to the pan to cover the beef and bring up to the boil.
   
   
3. Make up the stock cubes in a little water and add to the pan.
   
   
4. If the liquid doesn't cover the mixture add a little more and simmer gently for around 20 minutes, or until the beef is tender.
   
   
5. Chop the vegetables into bite-sized pieces and add to the pan.
   
   
6. Add the rice and mix well.
   
   
7. Cook for a further 10 minutes or until the vegetables are tender and the rice is cooked and then set aside and allow to cool.
   

Our recipes for homemade dog food contain natural, healthy, ingredients and are much fresher than some of the commercial dog foods available...and that's got to be better for your pooch!

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Herby Homemade Dog Food Recipes: Rosemary Chicken

Ingredients:

• 1 pound minced chicken or turkey
• 2 cups of brown rice
• 1 teaspoon of dried rosemary
• 1 Medium sized pack of frozen mixed vegetables or, if you prefer, a mixture of fresh chopped vegetables
• 1 chicken stock cube

What time's dinner mum?

Instructions:

1. Brown the minced meat in a pan, using a wooden spoon to break it up, and add the rosemary.
   
   
2. Dissolve the stock cube in enough water to cover the mixture.
   
   
3. Bring to the boil, then reduce the heat and allow to simmer gently for 20 minutes.
   
   
4. Add the vegetables and rice, mix thoroughly, and cook until the vegetables are tender and the rice is cooked.
   
   
5. Remove from the heat and allow to cool before refrigerating.

Each of our homemade dog food recipes above can be prepared and cooked in advance and refrigerated for up to 4 days.

Alternatively, they can be packed in foil containers and frozen in single portions and defrosted when needed.

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Yummy Meatloaf!

This is one of our best every homemade dog food recipes! And so healthy too!

Ingredients:

• Water for boiling vegetables
• 1 large chopped carrot 
• 1 chopped celery stick
• 1 small handful of chopped green beans or peas
• 1.5 lbs of minced beef
• 1 cup of oatmeal 
• 1 large whole egg, lightly whisked
• 3 medium-sized chopped tomatoes

Instructions:

1. Take a small pan and half fill it with water. Bring it to the boil and drop in your chopped carrot and celery and green beans.
   
   
2. Bring the heat down to simmer and cook until tender - around 4 minutes.
   
   
3. Drain off water (add peas if using) and set vegetables aside to cool.
   
   
4. Find a large mixing bowl, add all your ingredients and mix thoroughly.
   
   
5. Pack the mixture into a small meatloaf tin and cook in an oven pre-heated to 350 degrees for 50 minutes. If you need to leave it for another 10 minutes or so it should be okay. 
   
   
6. Take the meatloaf tin out of the oven and allow to cool.

Eh voila!

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Delicious Doggie Hot Pot!

Ingredients:

• 1 pint of hot chicken stock (a stock cube is fine)
• 2 sweet potatoes (ordinary potatoes will do the job just as well)
• 4 medium-sized carrots, chopped or sliced
• 1 handful of chopped green beans or chopped red pepper (optional)
• Parsley (if you have it - it helps sweeten the breath!)
• 4 boneless chicken portions or chicken breast - cut into bite-sized pieces
  

Instructions:

1. Place the chicken in a large pan and gently 'sweat' it until chicken fat is released. (If you're using chicken breasts you'll need to use a little sunflower oil). Turn up the heat and sear the chicken for a couple of minutes.
   
   
2. Add the chicken stock
   
   
3. Add all the remaining ingredients and cook on a medium heat until the vegetables are tender and the chicken is cooked.
   
   
4. Set aside and allow to cool before feeding to your dog. 

This homemade dog food recipe is yours, so don't be afraid to mix up the ingredients a little and use alternative veggies!

If you prefer your dog's meal to be less 'wet' you can reduce the liquid while it's in the pan by turning up the heat and boiling it off. Alternatively, you can add an extra potato and mash into the dish to thicken up the gravy.

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An 'Offally' Nice Dinner!

Max loves this dish and can always tell when I'm cooking it for him!

It smells delicious and out of all the homemade dog food recipes he's tasted, I believe this is probably his other favourite (yes, he has 2 recipes that he really loves - this one and savoury minced chicken!)

Ingredients:

• A selection of offal: hearts, liver and kidneys.
• White rice
• 1/4 of a small turnip, chopped into small pieces
• 1 medium-sized potato, peeled and chopped small
• 4 medium-sized carrots, peeled and sliced or chopped 
• 1 stick of celery, sliced
• 1 small garlic clove, minced (garlic is good for dogs, but only in very small quantities)
• Beef or chicken stock
  
  

Instructions:

1. Using a large pan, gently fry the offal in a tablespoon of sunflower or olive oil for 3 minutes. 
   
   
2. Add enough water to the pan to cover the offal (be careful, it will spit) and boil (approximately 5 minutes) until cooked. 
   
   
3. Using a slotted spoon, remove the offal and set aside to cool before chopping into small pieces. 
   
   
4. Drop the stock cube into the pan, add the remaining vegetables and cook until tender.
   
   
5. In another pan, place the rice and the liquid stock from the vegetable pan and cook.
   
   
6. When the rice is cooked, add it to the vegetable and meat mixture in your other pan.
   
   There shouldn't be much (if any) liquid left in the rice, if there is, remove it if you don't want a wet dish, otherwise there's no harm in leaving it in.

I have deliberately left the amounts of offal and rice blank because it often depends on how much offal I can get from our local butcher and how much I'm making.

I often make a few meals at a time because it keeps well in the fridge for a few days. I tend to use a ratio of 6 parts offal and 4 parts rice.

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Summary: Homemade Dog Food Recipes

Cooking for your dog can be fun and it's good to know exactly what goes into his meals.

However, these healthy recipes for homemade dog food are meant as suggested variations to your dog's diet and should only be used occasionally; there isn't enough variation in them to fully sustain your pet's health long-term.

Before making any changes to your dog's diet, please have a chat with your vet to make sure you're feeding your Cocker Spaniel a well-balanced, nutritional diet.

If you've enjoyed preparing these recipes for your dog, I also have some homemade dog biscuit recipes if you'd like to try your hand at those - I'm sure your furry friend will love you for it!

A Note of Caution...

Be Careful Not To Overfeed Your Cocker Spaniel

Our homemade dog food recipes don't come with a recommended portion size because it very much depends on your dog's lifestyle, age, and physical make-up.

So please take care, it's very easy to overfeed your pet when you don't have recommended guidelines. Max is almost 12 years old and he gets at least 1 hour's exercise every day (running free in the vineyards - lucky dog!) so his lifestyle isn't sedentary.

When I cook his meals, I usually give him 6 or 7 tablespoons of food (twice a day). If I notice he's getting a little 'porky' I cut back on the treats (the least nutritional).

I recommend you use your own judgement. You know your own dog best, but if you're in any doubt about your pet's nutritional needs, have a chat with your vet who will be able to advice you accordingly.

Our Visitor's Home Made Dog Food Recipes 

Delicious And Nutritious

By: Sadhana Poyekar
Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

 Cocker Spaniels will love this recipe, mine certainly does!

Cocker Spaniels love rice!

Curd Rice
Recipe Ingredients:

One cup of rice, well cooked
One cup of fresh curd
Handful of freshly chopped coriander
Pinch of chat Marsala

Cooking Instructions:

Add curd into rice and gently fold.

Add a pinch of chat Marsala and sprinkle with fresh coriander to serve.

Dogs love to eat this dish as they love milk products but I recommend you only give it to your dog as an occasional treat.

By: Sadhana Poyekar
Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

Our Visitor Comments for Curd Rice

Good Enough To Eat!
by: Anonymous

Wow! That looks good enough to eat!

Well, you know what I mean. If that was served up as an accompaniment to a curry in a restaurant, I'd be very happy!

Lucky Cocker Spaniel!

Is Milk Bad For Dogs?
by: Anonymous

I'd heard that milk was bad for dogs. Is this true?

by: Pauline
Website Author and Owner

Is Milk Bad For My Dog?

Generally, yes, too much milk can trigger lactose problems and can be very fattening for them. However, dogs can drink milk and eat milk based products, especially if it's only eaten as occasional treats.

In some case, I guess it depends on the dog as some dogs' digestive system can process lactose quite easily, other's cannot.

Lactose is a type of sugar found in most dairy products. For those who can't easily process lactose, it can make them sick and give them diarrhoea.

Symptoms of lactose intolerance is wind, loose stools, and he may also throw up.

If this happens, you're either feeding him too much milk or he's developed a lactose intolerance. The best thing to do is to stop the dairy products and monitor him. You'll probably see a big difference within a week or so. 

Your dog should be okay with cheese and yoghurt as these contain fairly low levels of lactose but take it easy as dairy products can be fattening and we all know our Cockers are prone to put on weight!

Delicious Curd Rice Recipe
by: Jacky

Never mind my dogs enjoying it - I enjoyed it too! It's really tasty.

I agree with you, it is very fattening, so only dish it up as an occasional treat!